The Brandywine Base Ball Club, which is dedicated to preserving the history of baseball as it was played (and spelled) in 1864, is currently seeking players for its upcoming season, as well as spectators who are invited to attend games free of charge. The team, which formed in 2013, is celebrating its 10th year of competing with other vintage clubs locally at its home field in West Chester, throughout Pennsylvania and in other states.

Vintage baseball has unique rules. Players do not wear gloves, and only one baseball is used during the entire game. The games have only one umpire, and all pitching is underhand.

"We play with people of all ages and different abilities and backgrounds. Barehand is an equalizer," said Rick Stratton, the team's marketing manager. "There are people who have never played competitive baseball and they end up doing quite well."

He explained that teams follow the rules and customs established in 1864 by dressing in historically similar attire and using period-appropriate equipment, including handmade wooden bats and hand-stitched balls made exclusively for vintage play, which are slightly bigger and softer than a modern baseball. Team members do wear cleats, but all modern-day logos are covered with black tape.

"We sometimes do play other versions of the game as the rules (of baseball) progressed," Stratton said. "There is a version of the game that uses 1865 rules. That's when things started to switch. You can no longer catch the ball on one bounce; you had to catch it on the fly, but still barehanded. We (do this) to teach spectators the evolution of the game."

Which version of baseball is being played is discussed in advance with the opposing team. "Last year, when we traveled to Rhode Island, we played a game with 1880 rules," Stratton shared. "The pitching was overhand. Only the catcher wore a glove, but everyone else was barehand and you had to catch balls on the fly."

Team players are asked to pay a fee to participate and are asked to buy their own uniforms. "Club dues help pay for field use; equipment, including bats, balls and bases; and insurance," noted Stratton.

Home matches are played at East Goshen Park, 1661 Paoli Pike, West Chester. Games are played on an open expanse of grass in the park. Canvas bags or sacks filled with rubber chips are used for bases.

For the upcoming season, the group will also play games in other states, including Cornish, Maine. Practices will begin in March, and the opening game will be held on Saturday, April 1, in Bethlehem.

Stratton said that players - including himself - have enjoyed being part of the team for the past 10 years. "We love it so much; we can't get away from it," he said.

For more information, including the complete schedule of games, visit http://www.brandywinebbc.org or http://www.facebook.com/BrandywineBBC. Prospective players may send a message to the team on Facebook or email brandywinebbc@gmail.com.